Daily Bits and Bobs

That should rule out Arsenal job! In form Norwich will test the young guns..

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Doesn’t it feel good to be the club which finally ended Ronald Koeman’s managerial career at Everton? His bully boy tactics were ghastly. Blaming the players, most of whom he actually signed, for their bad start the season wasn’t a smart move. Just goes to show doesn’t it that no matter how much money certain managers are given, they haven’t a clue how to assemble a balanced and strong squad. Perhaps that’s why Arsene Wenger doesn’t spend much money during a transfer window?

Koeman, with Arsenal’s ex shareholder on board, should have been challenging for at least the top four but instead, he’s history here in England, for a while at least, if not for good. At least that should rule him out of ever taking over from Arsene Wenger. That’s if the old boy ever decides that it’s time to hang up his whistle and cones.

A break away from the Premier League tonight for the Carabao Cup, a competition that will hardly be at the top of either clubs agenda this season but regardless, it’s a trophy which both clubs have failed to win for years. 1985 for Norwich, 1993 for Arsenal. The last time we reached the final of this competition we made a right old hash of it so it’d be nice to get to another just to make amends. It would do the fringe and youth players a lot of good too but there’s a long way to go before then and ideally we’d see a few of the better performing clubs get knocked out to ease our path to Wembley.

Who am I trying to kid eh….

There’s little doubt Norwich will be focused on a return to the Premier League and like us, they played on Sunday so rotation will probably be in Daniel Farkes mind, just as it certainly will be Arsene Wenger.

Norwich are on a pretty good run in the Championship and I don’t think they’ve lost a match yet. Our second string are yet to lose a match in Europa but they did make hard work of beating Doncaster Rovers in the opening fixture of this competition. A goal from Theo Walcott won it on the night.

I’ve no idea how Norwich play or who will play but facing a Championship team is never easy. They’ll be out to send up packing and grab the headlines, that’s a certainty but we’ve, or rather Wenger has to make sure our players don’t think they’ve only got to turn up to go through. It’ll be a tough and no doubt physical battle.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke wants his players to “create something special” by winning at Emirates Stadium.

There is no pressure on because 19 times out of 20 Arsenal would win. So let’s do something special with the one time. We’re full of respect for Arsenal but we want to beat them. That’s our topic and what we’re trying to do.

Matt Macey is being tipped to make his first senior start in goal which comes as no great surprise as Ospina is out injured but Jack Wilshere might sit this one out as a return to the first team is expected at the weekend. No doubt we’ll see a mix and match defence with Elneny and Holding taking the central roles as they did in Belarus and Wenger has been bigging up Josh Dasilva apparently so that could mean he’ll be involved at some stage tonight as will a few other younger players.

This is the kind of night when the first team fringe players need to step up. Be involved and take the game away from the visitors. It’s not the type of game for spectators or believing that they’ve only got to be out their to count for something. Walcott and Ollie were poor in our last Europa game and they need to wake up and give a lot more against a Championship side. They need to start putting a lot more effort in on the pitch if they want to be in the next round of this competition and not just those two either. They all do.

Talking of Ollie, he won the Puskas award for his peach of a goal against Crystal Palace. Funny though because that goal didn’t even earn him the goal of the month award in the league, nor did it win the goal of the season yet it was seen to be good enough for Puskas. Odd but well done to him anyway. I guess his stunner against Red Star will be looked at this time next year too.

Enough, see you in the comments….

rico

51 thoughts on “That should rule out Arsenal job! In form Norwich will test the young guns..”

  1. frednerk says:

    Morning Rico and All

    Sorry be of coarse.
    Lets be fair the chances of us hitting
    the ground running when Arsene gos
    is unlikely,it may take 2/3 managers.
    The mancs will tell us that.
    Not to mention other clubs.
    Most of us know that..I’m sure.

    What I find amazing now is this.
    Whenever we win it’s like…So What.
    Talk about kill the fans off.

  4. ScottfromOz says:

    Morning all.
    Any new manager will be taking over a squad assembled by Wenger, so needs a season to make the required changes.
    I hope the board and fans accept that, but then, that may be balanced by the fresh ideas brought in so we may see some instant improvement.
    It’s all a mystery, but it’s required.

  5. andrewh1313 says:

    Morning. I’m resigned to Wenger outliving us all! So just got to accept it. But certainly taken away a lot of enthusiasm. At start of season, I’ve never felt so meh. All the good work getting two in quickly was undone by what happened afterwards. At least Saturday gave us a glimpse of what can be achieved amongst the inconsistencies we will always have.

  6. frednerk says:

    We do have a big squad if we include
    the youngsters early rounds.
    The crunch is later in the season,if
    still involved.
    January will be telling.

  11. jeff wright says:

    Wenger must feel sorry for Koeman after all he knows from his own experience at Monaco what it is like to be shown the exit door. At any club other than AFC Wenger would have received his P45 donkeys years ago.We all that this is true. I doubt he would have lasted long at Real Madrid – whom according to Wenger – he was once approached by their CEO Perez to manage..They met secretly in Paris to discuss it. Wenger gets up to all sorts of dodgy things there. Wenger declined the offer though and decided to stay in the comfy zone at AFC where expectations are lower than they are at the Bernabeu. The Caraboo Cup named after an Energy Drink , perhaps Ozil should try drinking it , is Wenger’s best hope of winning a trophy. The problem is it only gets you a Ropey Cup place and unless you win a top 4 one winning dom cups is about as much use as making tea in a chocolate teapot for good ‘ol Stan who will be expecting Wenger to deliver a Champs League place this season. So I doubt that Wenger will be taking the Caraboo seriously .If it becomes obvious that a top 4 place is unlikely then we can expect the FA Cup to become a top trophy again though,albeit that only delievers a Ropey Cup place as well and Wenger is already at present playing in that .So perhaps he should try doing a Jose and put out stronger teams in the KO rounds.Of course this is risky if as usually happens with Wenger the team loses the tie and leaves him looking like Inspector Clueless . Wenger these days is just reacting to events rather them making things happen .

  12. rico says:

    Jeff, at least we all know why he supposedly turned down all these big offers from other clubs…. He’d have been sacked soon after…

    I reckon Europa is our best chance of securing CL football next season and even winning that seems highly unlikely.

  19. potter says:

    Important local domestic for me tonight. Lose this and the pub will be hell until the next time.
    Norwich are fairly quick with a bit of physicality ,just what we don’t like.Apparently they sold their allocation and bought more so 9000 traveling .Should be noisy.

  20. Wavy says:

    Afternoon All

    Goo read, as always Rico.

    Wiltshire? Badges? Between the lines?
    Yes. I think we all know his bones were forged in a glass factory. He’s a brittle as my thrice cooked chips!

    Surprisingly, for Jack I think he’s planning for the future, the very near future. It’s a shame really because he could have been n Arsenal legend had he sorted his bones out. Mind you he’s got two small boys to coach at his ex partners home!

    Hope I’m wrong but I rather fancy I’m not!

    Tonight’s result an really unexciting 1-0 to the Arsenal. George Graham’s legacy lives on!

    Unseasonably warm here although a bit cloudy.

  21. rico says:

    Thanks Wavy. I wondered if Jack has concerns over his bones too, mind you, he might just want to learn something new and he knows he won’t from Wenger.?

    Afternoon guys..

  22. Le Coq Monster says:

    Good evening all and thank`s again Rico.

    I know you are all desperate to know how my apple pie went !……………..well, you`ve heard of sticky toffee pudding…….. Salted Caramel etc……………….is there something called…………. Burnt Caramel Apple Pie ?……………no !……………..then I`ve invented it, delicious aswell ! hahaha

    If Norwich win tonight I epect half of you to be calling………………..

    Wenger Out !

    Farkes In……. Hell ! ………………………For Farkes Sake !………… hahahaha

    Tell you what my Venomous Wenger Vipers…………..anyone think like me and see what The Everton owner did by removing Koeman !……………….seeing that he once jointly owned 30% of our beloved club, I think we saw in the Koeman sacking a glimpse of what may have been at Arsenal had he (Moshiri) and Uzzy got control of the club………………….that being the earlier removal of Wenger.!

    Red and Whire Holdings(?) would have been more Abramovitch than Kroenke in dealing with Wenger imo.

    I think tonight will be a very tight game with us edging it 7-0.

  24. Le Coq Monster says:

    Not surprised by Jack doing ahis badges…………………..Wenger said a while back the Jack could be a potential Arsenal manager due to his football intelligence !………………..I`ve heard he sets up tent in Arsene`s Puffer Jacket at London Colney………………smoke can be seen coming from it, having a pow wow with Kroenke about his future !…………………..possibly a Wig wam if Kroenke is involved or is it a tee pee ?..or Toupee in Kroenkes case…………..Toupee or not Tee Pee that is the question !

  39. Kk says:

    Watched the game on bein sport.. terrible showing by arsenal.

    All fringe players had stinker not to mention the useless Giroud and Walcott.

    Le coq was rusty and iIowbi struggling
    Wilshere had a game to forget ..

    AMN . what can you say .. he ain’t a left wingback ..only in wenger’s deluded mind.

    We had like gazillion corners, all without
    serious threat. .until Nketiah scored his first and second. . he really put giroud and Walcott to shame

    Debauchy had a good game but the night belongs to Nketiah

    Norwich had the better chances but didn’t take them ..and the level of the premiership fitness made the difference in extra time. .

    Good win and moral boost for the kids though. .

    .

  42. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Chuba is too fat but could increment something to the team;
    NKeitha was a good surprise
    Debuchy was good but could make apenalty close the extra time finish
    M. Niles is a wrong position. Very bad for him.
    Giroud was ok but maybe not motivate
    Nelson must improve his crosses

  43. micko says:

    And Jack Wilshire playing 114 minutes without injuring himself or one of his team mates…….when was the last time that happened !

    Well done Eddie, your a record breaker.

    Quarter finals here we come, roll on Thursday, quite fancy Bristol City.

  45. allezkev says:

    Hey Rick, Eddie did it, showed the quality finishing he’s been showing in the Stiffs, nevermind comparing Lacazette to Ian Wright, I think Eddie should be wearing that crown in a year or two.

  46. ScottfromOz says:

    After seeing him in Sydney live, Nketiah was a stand out with Nelson.
    He’s got a massive future, imo.

  49. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all.

    Cant argue that was an inspired substitution by the great man…………certainly earned his £8.5M with that one !

    😆

    Agree with Adonis Kev, when I`ve watched Eddie for stiffs, he`s the closest to Wrighty I`ve seen !

  50. ScottfromOz says:

    The kids a gun!
    Let’s hope he’s taken along nicely, without being rushed.
    He’s nowhere near the finished article, but the talent is most definitely there.
    Morning all.

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